First Book of Sanskrit of R. G. Bhandarkar has been written in a style keeping in view of the needs of students as well as teachers. Each lesson consists of four parts:

1. Grammar
2. Sanskrit Sentences for Translation into English
3. English Sentences for Translation into Sanskrit
4. A Vocablary

This book contains as much Grammar as is needed for all practical purposes, perhaps more. The author has adopted the terminology of the English Grammarians of Sanskrit, but had strictly followed Panini, as explained by Bhattoji Dikshita in his Sidhantakaumudi.
The general rules of Grammar, and such exceptions as are important, have been given in this book.

The book continues to be a medium for facilitating and promoting the study of the language of the ancient sages even after a hundred years of its publication in 1883.